Oil trap for vacuum lines of wells



Nov. 10, 1953 RIDER 2,658,581

on TRAP FOR VACUUM LINES OF WELLS Filed Aug. 50, 1951 Paul M. Rider INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in oil well equipment and more particularly to a safety trap for the vacuum line used in pulling gas from the well to prevent oil from entering the line and interrupting operation of the vacuum system.

An important object of the invention is to provide a trap of this character which will not only automatically cut off the vacuum line should oil enter the line, but which will also return the oil to the well to save the oil and automatically restore the trap to re-open the line.

Another object is to provide a safety trap comprising a tank having a suction line connected to one end and provided with a float controlled valve, and a line leading from the other end of the tank to the well, and further providing a baffle in the tank forming a chamber at each end thereof whereby spray from oil surging into the tank from the well will not be drawn into the suction line prior to the closing of the valve.

A further object is to provide a safety trap of this character which is simple and practical in construction, efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for Which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the trap;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the float controlled valve; and,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on reduced scale taken on a line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a trap tank having clean out covers 6 at each end. A suction pipe 1 enters one end of the tank at its upper portion leading from a suction system used for creating a vacuum in a well during its pumping operation and a vacuum line 8 leads from the bottom of the tank at its opposite end to the well.

The inner end of pipe 1 extends downwardly in the tank and in which i suitably secured a valve seat 9 engaged by a valve [0 at the upper end of a rod or stem II which has a float [2 at its lower end. The downwardly extending portion la of pipe 1 is formed with an opening lb below the valve seat and the lower end of pipe 1 is closed to form a cup-like chamber 10 in which: valve It is confined in a position out of the path, of suction entering the pipe, when the valve is in: open position, a shown in Figure 2. Float I2I preferably comprises a metal ball having a quan tity of mercury 13 therein suflicient to open the valve against the suction force in the system and permitting the float to rise when oil enters the tank.

An oil line I4, having a check valve l5 therein, leads from the top of the tank at its end to which line 3 is also attached, the oil line leading to the oil storage tanks (not shown) for the well. A tube It is connected to the inner end of oil line it and extends downwardly in the tank to a oint adjacent its bottom to syphon oil from the tank by pressure of air built up in the top of the tank.

A baflie plate I! is suitably secured in the tank to provide a chamber H3 at one end for the inner end of suction pipe I and a chamber at the other end of the tank for the inner end of vacuum line 8 and tube I6 for oil line H.

A ring 20 is secured in the lowermost portion of baffle plate It to provide an opening between the chambers.

A drain valve 2| is connected to one end of the tank.

In the operation of the device, the weighted float [2 holds valve [8 open and vacuum line 8 leading to the well remains open. Should oil from the well enter vacuum line 8 and tank 5, float I? will rise to close the suction pipe 1 and prevent the oil from entering the suction system. Pressure built up in the tank 5 by the oil will open check valve l5 in oil line I4 and the oil will flow from the tank to the usual storage tanks (not shown) Baiile plate ll prevents spray caused by the surging and splashing of oil as it enters the tank 5 from reaching chamber I8 and entering the suction pipe 1 before the oil rises sufliciently to close the valve Hi.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully compre hended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An oil trap for the suction line of an oil well and comprising a tank, a baflie plate extending from top to bottom of the tank separating the same into a first chamber and a second chamber at the opposite ends of the tank, said bafile plate having an opening in its lower portion to provide a restricted passage between the chambers, said first chamber having a suction line attached thereto at a above the opening the ham and said second chamber having a vacuum line connected to its bottom and leading to the well, a valve housing at the inner end of the suction line and extending downwardly therefrom -into the first chamber, said valve housing-having opening in one side and a cup-like chamber in its bottom below said last named-opening,--a valve seat in the housing above said last namedopening, a valve in the housing adapted to move upwardly into closed position against the valve seat, said valve being -confined 'in-the chamberat the bottom'of the 'valve "housing and out of'the path of fluid "entering the housing'by way of theopening therein when the valve is in open position, a float in the first chamber and connected to the valve, a pipe leading from the top of the second chamber to remove oil therefrom, said pipe having a syphon tube extending downwardly therefrom into the second chamber to a point substantially in the horizontal plane of said opening in the baflle to syphon oil from both chambers by pressure of air built up therein, and a check valve in raun M. RIDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent Uliljl Ep ;STATES PATENTS 

